SHEARABLE DEPLOYMENT BARS WITH MUTIPLE PASSAGES AND CABLES
Apparatus for deploying coiled tubing into a wellbore include a neck portion extending between end connections, where the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string, and a main flow passage, at least one secondary flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections. In some aspects, a wireline cable or an optical fiber is disposed in the electrical device passageway, and a well treatment fluid flows through the main flow passage. The main flow passage may have a substantially circular cross sectional shape. In some aspects, the apparatus includes at least one secondary flow passage having a substantially circular cross sectional shape, which may be a tube disposed within the main flow passage. The electrical device passageway may in some cases be a tube disposed within the main flow passage.
This Patent Document claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/115,750 filed Feb. 13, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELDThe present disclosure is related in general to wellsite equipment such as oilfield surface equipment, downhole assemblies, coiled tubing (CT) assemblies, slickline and assemblies, and the like.
BACKGROUNDCoiled tubing is a technology that has been expanding its range of application since its introduction to the oil industry in the 1960's. Its ability to pass through completion tubulars and the wide array of tools and technologies that can be used in conjunction with it make it a very versatile technology.
Typical coiled tubing apparatus includes surface pumping facilities, a coiled tubing tool string mounted on a reel, a method to convey the coiled tubing into and out of the wellbore, such as an injector head or the like, and surface control apparatus at the wellhead. Coiled tubing has been utilized for performing well treatment and/or well intervention operations in existing wellbores such as, but not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, matrix acidizing, milling, perforating, coiled tubing drilling, and the like.
In spooled conveyance services such as coiled tubing, wireline, and slickline, downhole tools need to be transferred from the reel at atmospheric pressure to inside the wellbore at wellbore pressure, in a process referred to as coiled tubing deployment. This transfer may be accomplished using a long riser with the conveyance attached to the top of the long riser. In this method, the tools are either pulled into the bottom of this riser, or are assembled into it. The riser is then attached to the well, is pressure tested, then the tools are run into the well. In an embodiment, an ‘easier to run’ service is utilized to place the tools in the well, followed by a ‘harder to run’ service do the running in hole. In this embodiment, the downhole tools are provided with an additional part known as a deployment bar. This deployment bar is intended to provide a surface against which the blowout preventers (BOPs) can both grip and seal. In the case where the ‘harder to run’ service is coiled tubing, wireline or slickline may be used to pre-place the tools in the coiled tubing BOP. The deployment bar used will be selected to have a diameter substantially equal to the coiled tubing diameter. As part of the contingency plans, it must always be possible to close the master valves of the BOP. In order to do this while the downhole tools are hanging in the BOPs, and without opening the well to atmosphere (thereby creating a blowout), the deployment bar must be capable of being sheared by the shear ram in the BOP. Once this is done, the slip and pipe rams can be opened and the tool dropped into the well.
It remains desirable to provide improvements in oilfield surface equipment and/or downhole assemblies such as, but not limited to, methods and/or systems for deploying coiled tubing into wellbores such as improved deployment bars for coiled tubing deployment.
SUMMARYThis section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a necessarily a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In a first aspect of the disclosure, apparatus for deploying coiled tubing into a wellbore include a neck portion extending between end connections, where the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string, and a main flow passage, at least one optional secondary flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections. In some aspects, a wireline cable or an optical fiber is disposed in the electrical device passageway, and a well treatment fluid flows through the main flow passage. The main flow passage may have a substantially circular cross sectional shape. In some aspects, the apparatus includes at least one secondary flow passage having a substantially circular cross sectional shape, which may be a tube disposed within the main flow passage. The electrical device passageway may in some cases be a tube disposed within the main flow passage. In some other aspects, the main flow passage, the at least one secondary flow passage and the electrical device passageway are isolated by contiguous walls. The apparatus may be sheared by at least one shearing ram disposed in a blowout preventer which provides a clean cut that which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of apparatus, where the main flow passage is substantially open to the wellbore, and where the shearing ram seals the pressure of the wellbore from the atmosphere after the clean cut.
In another aspect of the disclosure, methods include providing an apparatus having a neck portion extending between a first and a second end connection, where the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string. The apparatus further includes a main flow passage, at least one optional secondary flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections. A tool is attached to the first end connection of the apparatus, and the tool are introduced into a blow out preventer, a wellhead and a wellbore. The apparatus may be secured with one or more sealing rams contained with the blow out preventer, and the coiled tubing tool string attached to the second end connection of the apparatus. The coiled tubing tool string, the apparatus and the tool may then be deployed into the wellbore. A well treatment fluid may then be pumped into the wellbore through the main flow passage, a second fluid may be transmitted through the at least one secondary flow passage, and power may be provided to the tool through a wireline cable disposed in the least one electrical device passageway.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, methods include providing an apparatus including a neck portion extending between a first and a second end connection, where the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string. The apparatus further includes a main flow passage, at least one secondary flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections. A tool is attached to the first end connection of the apparatus, the apparatus and the tool introduced into a blow out preventer, a wellhead and a wellbore, and the apparatus then secured with one or more sealing rams contained with the blow out preventer. The apparatus may be sheared by at least one shearing ram disposed in the blowout preventer to provide a clean cut which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of apparatus, and where the shearing ram seals the pressure of the wellbore from the atmosphere. The one or more sealing rams may be opened, and the tool and apparatus dropped into the wellbore.
Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:
The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, its application, or uses. The description and examples are presented herein solely for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments and should not be construed as a limitation to the scope and applicability of such. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of concepts according to the disclosure. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated. The terminology and phraseology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” or “involving,” and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited. Also, as used herein any references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and/or systems of using a deployment bar that is designed to maximize its ability to be sheared while delivering at least one flow passage and at least one electrical wire therethrough. Referring to
With reference to
An embodiment of one deployment bar according to the present disclosure is shown in
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Another embodiment of a deployment bar according to the disclosure is shown in
Yet another embodiment of a deployment bar according to the disclosure is depicted in
With reference to
Embodiments according to the disclosure provide and use deployment bars that exhibit at least sufficient load carrying properties, both pressure induced and axial load, as well as sufficient shearability properties to ensure cutting which is clean, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deployment bar, and seals the higher pressure portion of the wellbore from the environment in the event that the wellbore needs to be sealed. Deployment bars according to the disclosure may also be optimized for shearability properties by minimizing total metal cross section, while maintaining sufficient load carrying properties. Further, in some aspects, such minimization may be localized to the shearing area to avoid reducing the collapse pressure of the bar.
In some method embodiments according to the disclosure, downhole tools are lowered into a wellbore in sections, and hung off of the blowout preventer (BOP) sealing rams using a deployment bar, such as those described in
Referring again to
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The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be sufficiently thorough, and will convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, but are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. It will be appreciated that it is within the scope of the disclosure that individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Also, in some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Further, it will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in the design, manufacture, and operation of apparatus to achieve that described in the disclosure, variations in apparatus design, construction, condition, erosion of components, gaps between components may present, for example.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In the figures illustrated, the orientation of particular components is not limiting, and are presented and configured for an understanding of some embodiments of the disclosure.
Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for deploying coiled tubing into a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a neck portion extending between end connections, wherein the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string; and,
- a main flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections, wherein the apparatus is shearable by at least one shearing ram disposed in a blowout preventer to provide a clean cut which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and wherein the main flow passage is substantially open to the well bore, and wherein the shearing ram seals the pressure of the wellbore from the atmosphere after the clean cut.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one secondary flow passage.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a wireline cable is disposed in the electrical device passageway.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an optical fiber is disposed in the electrical device passageway.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein well treatment fluid flows through the main flow passage.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein well treatment fluid flows from the wellbore through the at least one secondary flow passage.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one secondary flow passage has a substantially circular cross sectional shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one secondary flow passage is a tube disposed within the main flow passage.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electrical device passageway is a tube disposed within the main flow passage.
10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the main flow passage, the at least one secondary flow passage and the electrical device passageway are isolated by contiguous walls.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the neck portion is sized to conform to the diameter of the coiled tubing.
12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one secondary flow passage is a plurality of flow passages being defined by a plurality of secondary tubes disposed within the main flow passage.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one secondary flow passage is a tube having an end which seals in a sealing region within at least one of the end connections.
14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one secondary flow passage is a tube having at least one end which seals in a sealing region within at least one of the end connections.
15. A method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising a neck portion extending between a first and a second end connection, and a main flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections, wherein the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string;
- attaching a tool to the first end connection of the apparatus;
- introducing the apparatus and the tool into a blow out preventer, a wellhead and a wellbore, wherein the apparatus is shearable by at least one shearing ram disposed in the blowout preventer;
- securing the apparatus with one or more sealing rams contained with the blow out preventer;
- attaching the coiled tubing tool string to the second end connection of the apparatus; and,
- deploying the coiled tubing tool string, the apparatus and the tool into the wellbore.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one secondary flow passage
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising pumping well treatment fluid into the wellbore through the main flow passage, transmitting a second fluid through the at least one secondary flow passage, and providing power to the tool through a wireline cable disposed in the least one electrical device passageway.
18. A method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising a neck portion extending between a first and a second end connection, wherein the end connections are configured to be attached to a coiled tubing tool string, and a main flow passage, at least one secondary flow passage and at least one electrical device passageway extending through the neck portion and the end connections;
- attaching a tool to the first end connection of the apparatus;
- introducing the apparatus and the tool into a blow out preventer, a wellhead and a wellbore;
- securing the apparatus with one or more sealing rams contained with the blow out preventer; and,
- shearing the apparatus by at least one shearing ram disposed in the blowout preventer to provide a clean cut which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of apparatus, and wherein the shearing ram seals the pressure of the wellbore from the atmosphere.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising opening the one or more sealing rams dropping the tool and apparatus into the wellbore.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising closing at least one master valve disposed in the wellhead.
21. The method of claim 18 further comprising attaching the coiled tubing tool string to the second end connection of the apparatus prior to shearing the apparatus.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2016
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2018
Patent Grant number: 10590729
Inventor: Rod William Shampine (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 15/550,495